Jun 20 2007
Postcard from Abroad
I received a postcard in the mail from Okinawa, Japan today. (Thank you, bruddah Keith!)
My Okinawan dance troupe is there for a tour and performance. Had I not been on this extended hiatus, I would most likely have been there with them. It has been 8 years since my last trip to the “homeland” and I long to return for another visit.
People have asked me on occasion why I, as a Christian, am such a zealot about bon dances. Understandly, it seems a bit contradictory since the obon is rooted in Buddhism. To me, my participation in bon dances is solely for the cultural experience, not as a religious observance. (As Joni so aptly explained, it’s akin to a Buddhist participating in Easter or Christmas festivities.) I grew up listening to the lively plunking of the Okinawan sanshin on Mom’s old phonograph and my heart beats steadily to the rhythm of the taiko. Bon dances allow me to draw close to my culture, to exercise my rusty odori muscles, and enjoy the company of friends in a festive and fun atmosphere.
As a result of the encouragement of my mother, I have been dancing since I was a toddler, running onstage at the Sonjinkai Shinnen Enkai (new year’s party) and stealing the kachashi limelight from the ojiichans and obaachans. At age 5, I started Okinawan dance lessons and continued off-and-on throughout my life. Having been in an “off” period for a few years now, bon dances are my only connection to a love for the music and dances of my culture. Donning a hapi coat and dancing to the lilting notes of the sanshin thrills my heart and makes me proud of my rich heritage.
As the pieces of my life start to fall in place, I know that I will return to my odori training. Until then, you’ll see me dancing my little heart out around the yagura in the bon dance circle.
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
As a devout, service attending, practicing Buddhist (try to be that if you’re under 50 in Hawai’i and you’ll understand what it’s like to be swimming against the tides), I can say that the bon dance season is really more of a cultural rather than religious event. The vast majority of the folks who come to, say, Kane’ohe Highashi Hongwanji’s event are neither Buddhist nor regular service attendees, but they are appreciated for who they are, and for coming (and in secular terms, the dance is also a fundraiser for the temple, so the more, the better).
The one part of the event that I dislike is when local politicians show up–only in election years. I don’t mind that they come, but if they’re going to come only in election years to try to get votes, that bothers me. Come every year, or if you only come once every four years, then don’t pander.
My opinion, of course, only, take it for what it’s worth.
Ryan: Absolutely! I have seen the popularity of bon dances grow over the past few years, it’s amazing. People of all ages, races, and religions go to bon dances to enjoy the cultural experience. It’s one of the things that makes Hawaii such a great place — the diversity of cultures and our acceptance and appreciation of them all. I also agree with you about politicians seizing it as an opportunity to campaign. That bugs me, too.
So are the odds favorable for a random chapuru sighting at Wahiawa Hongwanji this weekend?
Seriously I’ve still not come to terms with what I, also a devout Christian, would do during the incense offering (shoko) during a Buddhist funeral service - especially for a close relative. Maybe just walk up and offer a prayer to the Heavenly Father…
To answer your first question: yes.
To answer your second question… I don’t know if this is the “proper” thing to do, but this is what I do: out of respect, I approach the altar, do not offer incense, but bow my head and lift a short prayer to the Lord for the deceased and the family. I have seen others do the same and it doesn’t seem to ruffle feathers, at least not that I’ve caught wind of.
As a devout Buddhist, what I can say about the incense ceremony is this:
It’s far more important to me that someone shows up for the service and shows respect in their own way than do something that does not respect themselves or their faith.
Perhaps it’s a Buddhist way of thinking–I brought this up to a Christian who I worked with and subsequently got lambasted–but my feeling on faiths is that they are different roads toward the same destination. I have much more respect for someone following their own road faithfully than for someone to sway off of their road to try to accommodate someone else. My own two cents, of course…
…and it’s not like I’m always looking at who offers incense either
It’s pretty hard being a christian, and growing up in a buddhist family…both sides of my family are buddhist…only my cousin and I are christian…when I entered into High School, that is when I had the chance to choose what religon I wanted to turn too…i’m happy to have great understanding parents…my Mom wasn’t mad or anything she was very supportive…in fact none of my family members really care…till this day even when a family memeber passes away I still do attend services…and also still attend yearly services for my grandparents, aunt, and uncle who has passed away…it’s my way of showing respect to my family…if someone was against me from going to a buddhist temple to pay my respects to a family member oh wells…I wouldn’t turn my back on family members…I guess that’s my way of thinking…everyone thinks different…my cousin also who is a christian pays his respect as well at my family services…no one tells us anything, and i’m sure if they did my cousin would say something…haha…